Taking on the Sand Shinobi

Outside the Forest of Death.

The genin who had passed the first round followed Mitarashi Anko's father here.

"This is where your next exam will take place: the Forest of Death."

The Forest of Death.

The name alone sounded dangerous.

"What, scared already? You cowards from Kumogakure!"

"Hmph, it's the perfect place to bury you Sand Shinobi!"

Hostile voices rang out as the Sand Shinobi and Cloud Shinobi glared at one another.

They were genin, yet they were mouthing off like a bunch of street thugs.

"Looks like you're all happy with the exam venue I prepared."

"Now, everyone come up and sign this consent form. Anyone who refuses can get the hell out right now."

Mitarashi Moriaki, a scar across his face, spoke coldly.

"If you don't want to die in there, get lost, Sand Shinobi."

The Kumogakure shinobi stepped forward first to sign the "death waiver," making sure to mock the Sunagakure shinobi along the way.

Madara Uchiha would later say that the ninja world was bound by an unbreakable chain of hatred.

It was inevitable.

Wars broke out far too often in this world. Too many people died on the battlefield, their blood soaking the earth.

Each of those people had family and friends.

Those left behind inherited their grudges and hatred, turning against other shinobi villages and never forgetting.

"This is the ninja world."

Kazan had known that for a long time.

He was no saint. There was only so much he could concern himself with; living his own life well was enough.

Kazan stepped forward and signed his name...

"Good. Now I'll explain the second round of the Chunin Ninja Exams."

Mitarashi Moriaki waited until everyone had signed before announcing the exam's rules.

"Before entering the Forest of Death, you'll receive either a Heaven Scroll or an Earth Scroll from me!"

"The conditions for passing are simple. Whatever methods you use, collect both a Heaven Scroll and an Earth Scroll and reach the Central Building in the Forest of Death. Do that, and you pass."

So this was what eliminating more than half of them meant.

Each squad would receive only one of the two scrolls. They would have to take the other from someone else.

Wouldn't that leave, at most, half of them standing?

A chill ran through some of the examinees.

They had no way of knowing which squad possessed the scroll they needed.

They could very well defeat or kill an entire squad, only to find that its scroll still wasn't the one they needed.

The elimination and death rates were far too high—over half!

"You're basically forcing us to fight the other squads to the death!"

"Exactly. You're supposed to kill each other. Don't be so naive, brats. The ninja world is a cruel place."

Mitarashi Moriaki laughed, tugging at the scar on his face. It was chilling.

"One final rule: no one may read the contents of either scroll during the exam. Anyone caught doing so will be disqualified."

"Now, all squads, enter the Forest of Death in groups!"

With that final command, the second round officially began.

The ninja squads entered the Forest of Death in groups.

When Kazan's squad's turn came, the three exchanged glances, then picked up speed and entered the forest.

"Let's make this quick. Inuzuka, Aburame, have your dog and insects track down the other ninja squads by scent and whatever traces they leave."

"Just what I was thinking. Kuromaru!"

Tsume Inuzuka's personality was just like that of her future son, Kiba Inuzuka: headstrong, energetic, and brimming with confidence.

"Woof!"

Kuromaru barked beneath her and began tracking by scent.

Shibi Aburame said nothing. Countless insects simply streamed from his body in a dense swarm.

Kazan had to admire that clan. Carrying bugs around on their bodies every day—didn't they itch?

The three raced through the forest.

"Woof!"

Before long, Kuromaru barked beneath Tsume Inuzuka.

"Found them. Twelve o'clock, about a kilometer away."

"Nice. Your dog's got a good nose. Catch up as fast as you can. I'm going ahead!"

Shave!

Kazan waited no longer. His Observation Haki had already picked up movement ahead.

Observation Haki had an incredibly high ceiling.

Marine Admiral Fujitora could even detect meteorites in space with his Observation Haki, then use his Devil Fruit ability to bring them crashing down on his enemies.

Kazan couldn't manage that yet. His Observation Haki barely covered a kilometer.

Whoosh!

Tsume Inuzuka and Shibi Aburame saw a blur flash before their eyes. When they caught sight of Kazan again, he was already dozens of meters away.

"Has he been matching our pace this whole time?" Tsume Inuzuka was stunned, but another thought quickly struck her. "That lunatic! Is he planning to take on an entire squad alone?"

"Faster, Kuromaru!"

"Woof!"

Tsume Inuzuka sped up after him. Shibi Aburame thought they ought to observe more carefully before attempting to seize a scroll.

Unfortunately, neither of his teammates intended to do that.

"We should come up with a battle plan..."

He spoke to empty air. His teammates were already gone.

Kazan quickly covered the kilometer, and a three-person ninja squad appeared before him.

"Sand Shinobi. Lucky me!"

Kazan spotted his targets, and they noticed his arrival as well.

"A Konoha ninja!"

"Only one?"

"It's that youngest brat!"

The Sand Shinobi squad was startled by the sight of a Konoha forehead protector. Then they realized he was alone and immediately decided to kill him on the spot.

"Don't get careless. His teammates might be nearby!"

"What's there to be afraid of? Kill him first, then find the other two."

One of the Sand Shinobi readied himself to kill Kazan right there.

"Hand over your scroll, Sand Shinobi!"

Kazan shattered a tree trunk beneath his foot and leaped high, soaring above the three Sand Shinobi.

He had told them to hand it over, but his attack was already prepared.

"Fist Bone!"

He clenched his right fist, surging chakra gathering into it.

Since he hadn't awakened Armament Haki, he would use chakra as a substitute.

A terrifying wave of chakra erupted, instantly changing the expressions of the three Sand Shinobi below.

They sensed something monstrous brewing within Kazan's fist.

Then...

"Impact!"

Kazan drove his fist down without holding anything back. The chakra in his hand burst forth like the Milky Way crashing from the heavens.

Boom!

An immense, invisible shock wave slammed down, blasting apart the air and sending violent ripples sweeping in every direction.

With a single punch, the ground burst apart like tofu, leaving a huge crater.

The three Sand Shinobi genin had dodged quickly, but the shock wave from the punch still blew them away.

"What kind of jutsu is that?!"

Nothing in their memories resembled it. It was far too explosive.

Just one punch had caused more destruction than any ninjutsu they knew. Its power was terrifying.

"Watch out, Irani!"

The shock waves from Kazan's punch were still spreading, but the sharpest member of the Sand Shinobi squad had already picked up his movement.

The Konoha brat who had been airborne a moment ago was already upon their teammate.

"What?!"

She hurriedly turned at the warning, only to see Kazan's far-too-young face—and his clenched fist.

"Hey there, Sand Shinobi!"

Boom!

At almost the same instant, Kazan's fist struck her with unstoppable force.

Crack!

Irani felt the bones in her back snap as the punch sent her flying helplessly sideways.

Thud!

She finally slammed into a tree and crumpled to the ground like a puppet whose strings had been cut.

In a single exchange, the Sand Shinobi squad had lost one member!